Subtle Audio Upgrades

[MrSony]

Thanks for your help MrSony. Just so I understand correctly, did your '85 Regal originally come with a 1.5 DIN radio? I thought that in 1985, GM was still using a single DIN radio in the G body cars. So the existing radio mounting brackets from your Regal were a direct fit to the radio from the Ciera? Were the Regal radio harness connectors also a direct fit to the Ciera radio? What kind of radio bezel did you use? Were you able to use the factory bezel from your Regal? Thanks again for your help.

Yep, used everything. Factory connectors, bezel, everything. Basically just swapped a non cassette radio for a cassette radio. I believe starting in 1984, most G Bodies started using the bigger style of radio. The radio that WAS in my Regal, looks exactly like the picture up there EXCEPT no tape deck. ANd again, everything fit, I just had to swap the brackets FROM the old one TO the new one. Other than that, 100% drop in. No cutting, no splicing, nothing. Took me all of five minutes to do. I kid you not. 5 minute swap.

 

[clean8485]

OK, thanks MrSony. Thanks for clarifying that. I know that in the Monte Carlo/El Camino, GM did not go to the 1.5 DIN style radio until the 1986 model year. Its good to know that the O.E. brackets and harness connectors will work for the newer radio/deck.

 

[MrSony]

Welcome.

 

[liquidh8]

Good friend of mine runs a gm cd player from a mid 90's truck in his 83 elco. He said it was a really tight fit but it looks factory and sounds pretty good. You obviously need to cut and trim the faceplate and he had to make a new mounting bracket to get it to fit and supported.

The ebay listing below states it should be a plug in and go setup for the 442 so it should fit your cutty and look factory ( depending if you have 1.5 din radio or the 2 knobs old style you may not even have to cut the faceplace )

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-RADIO-CD...ash=item2eea150ef0:g:Ih8AAOSw~OdVcQue&vxp=mtr

Personally I run a kenwood x981. Highs in the vents, Ininifty Kappa's in the dash and rear, and a small box for some thump in the trunk.

I ran one of these in my 78 El Camino SS. Fits tight, but sounded good and didn't look all out of place.

 

[MollytheOldsmobile]

Here is my rig...replaced the dash speaker (twice) and added 6X9 (with adapters to fit) in the back.
XM Satellite Radio and custom cup holders.
Took the iPhone thing out...it never did work the way I envisioned it would.

 

[ssn696]

Add MP3s to your sound system with no wiring. Satechi MP3 player, plugs into the cigarette lighter and transmits over the radio. You set what frequency to use to avoid interference from surrounding stations. $32 from Amazon, and it comes with a remote. I used this because my 2000 Bravada has the Bose premium (distributed) sound system where you can't replace the head unit without replacing the entire system. Adequate for old fart ears like mine.